A player evaluation answers one question: can this player help a team at this level, and how soon? Everything else is supporting evidence. Use eight sections: profile, role, shot profile, creation, defense, feel, physical tools and projection. Grade each from 1 to 5 against the level you recruit for, not against everyone who has ever played. And label every claim with how much evidence it rests on, because the most common evaluation mistake is a confident conclusion built on one game.
| Section | What to write | The question it answers |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Profile | Position, height, length, age, level of competition | Who is this, and against whom? |
| 2. Role | What he does now; what he would do for you | Where does he fit on your roster? |
| 3. Shot profile | Where he shoots from, how often, how efficiently | How does he score, really? |
| 4. Creation | Can he get his own shot? Does he make others better? | Does the offense run through him or around him? |
| 5. Defense | Who he can guard, where he gets beaten | Can you play him in a close game? |
| 6. Feel | Decisions, reads, turnovers | Does he make the right play fast enough? |
| 7. Physical tools and motor | Athleticism, strength, effort, conditioning | Will it translate against better athletes? |
| 8. Projection | Grade, level fit, timeline, recommendation | Offer, keep watching, or pass? |
Grade against a level, not a legend
The most useful change most evaluators can make is to write the target level at the top of the page. A 3 at NCAA Division I and a 3 at Division III are different players, and a grading scale that tries to cover both covers neither.
| Grade | Meaning at your target level |
|---|---|
| 5 | Among the best at this level in this skill |
| 4 | Clear strength; would stand out |
| 3 | Solid; would hold his own |
| 2 | Below average; would need to improve to play |
| 1 | Not yet at this level |
The overall grade is not an average of the eight sections. One elite skill with no disqualifying weakness usually beats several average ones, because rosters are built from players who do something well. Write down the one skill that gets him on the floor and the one weakness that could keep him off it.
It also helps to be honest about the odds. The NCAA's latest estimates, built on 2024-25 participation data, show that about 3.6% of high school boys' basketball players and 4.7% of girls' players go on to play NCAA basketball, and only about 1.1% and 1.4% at Division I. An evaluation that calls every good high school player a Division I prospect is not an evaluation.
The sample-size rule
Every claim in an evaluation rests on some amount of evidence, and the reader deserves to know how much. Borrow the three labels HoopBrief uses in its free Matchup Lab:
- Solid: seen across several games and a meaningful number of attempts or possessions.
- Limited: seen in a game or two, or on a modest number of attempts. Worth noting, not worth deciding on.
- Too thin: one game, one play, a handful of shots. Say so, and move on.
This rule protects you in both directions. It stops a bad shooting night from sinking a good player, and it stops a hot tournament from inflating an average one.
A worked example
Here is the template filled in for Caleb Wilson, using HoopBrief's pre-draft scouting report, which is based on public reporting. Wilson played one season at North Carolina and was drafted fourth overall by the Chicago Bulls in 2026.
| Section | Evaluation | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Profile | 6-foot-10 combo forward, about 215 pounds, freshman at North Carolina | Solid |
| Role | Finisher and defensive playmaker now; two-way forward if the jumper develops | Solid |
| Shot profile | Just under 20 points a game on 58% shooting; 68% at the rim on heavy volume | Solid |
| Creation | Connective passer for a forward; handle still developing under pressure | Limited |
| Defense | Switchable for his size, shot-blocking and playmaking on the ball | Solid |
| Feel | Good passing feel; ball security when handling is a concern | Limited |
| Physical tools | Long, springy, mobile; needs strength and balance | Solid |
| Three-point shooting | About 26% from three on low volume in college; 7 of 11 in his Summer League debut | Too thin, both ways |
The last row is the whole lesson. A 26% college mark on low volume does not prove he cannot shoot, and a 7-of-11 night in Las Vegas does not prove he can. Both are too thin. The honest evaluation says: elite finisher and defender, jumper unresolved, and the projection depends on it. Our Caleb Wilson rookie breakdown goes deeper on the fit in Chicago.
Your prospects will not be lottery picks, but the method is identical. Replace "North Carolina" with a high school conference or an AAU circuit, and the questions stay the same.
The measurables worth recording
The NBA Draft Combine measures height with and without shoes, wingspan fingertip to fingertip, standing reach, hand length and width, and athletic tests such as the standing and maximum vertical, lane agility and a three-quarter-court sprint. High school prospects rarely get verified numbers, so record what you have and label where it came from.
| Measure | Why it matters | Label it |
|---|---|---|
| Height in shoes | Positional fit, but less than coaches think | Measured or listed |
| Wingspan | Finishing, contesting and deflections | Measured or estimated |
| Standing reach | The best single size number for bigs | Measured only |
| Hand size | Handling, catching in traffic, rebounding | Measured or estimated |
| Speed and lateral quickness | Who he can guard at the next level | From film, not a stopwatch |
Listed heights in high school programs are often generous. If a number matters to the recommendation, measure it yourself or mark it as listed.
How to fill each section fast
Profile. Measurables and context. Write the level of competition next to every statistic, because 20 points in a weak conference and 20 points in a strong one are different numbers.
Shot profile. Where he shoots matters more than how much he scores. Split his attempts into rim, short range, mid-range and three, with makes and attempts for each. Our guide to studying a player in 10 possessions gives a fast film method when stats are thin.
Creation. Does he create his own shot against a set defense, or only in transition? Count assists that lead to layups or open threes separately from routine ones.
Defense. Name the positions he can guard. "Good defender" says nothing. "Can guard 2 through 4, struggles with quick point guards on the perimeter" says a lot.
Feel. Watch his decisions when the first option is taken away. Turnovers per possession tell part of it; the reads before the turnover tell the rest.
Physical tools and motor. Effort is visible. Does he sprint back? Does he play hard when the game is decided? This is the section AI cannot write for you.
For high school coaches writing to a college recruiter
Recruiters read quickly. Send five lines, not five pages:
- Position, height, class, GPA and the level of your league.
- The one skill that gets him on the floor, with a stat and the sample behind it.
- The one area he is working on, stated honestly.
- Links to two full games against strong opponents, not only highlights.
- Your phone number and a good time to call.
Honesty about the weakness is what makes the strength believable.
Where AI fits
AI is useful for the numbers sections: turning public statistics and play-by-play data into a shot profile, a list of strengths and weaknesses, and a first read on how defenses would attack a player. It cannot see motor, coachability or how a teenager handles a bad night. Use it for the first draft of sections 3 through 6, then watch the games yourself for the rest.
HoopBrief does exactly that first draft for NBA players and draft prospects. The free how-to-guard reports and draft scouting reports show the format. With an account you can ask about any player: Starter, at $9.99 a month, gives unlimited questions and every NBA player's tendencies across five coaching lenses, including Development and Analytics, and Pro, at $99 a month, adds all 12 lenses, deep reports and unlimited saved reports for an evaluation library. See plans and get started.